Chapter 11: A Dose Of Drama

༺RAYNE༻

Liam reaches where I'm standing and it's like he senses the tension because he immediately snakes his arm around my waist. I smile at him and lean into his chest. Hallie and her bimbos' faces all turn pale, their jaws dropping wide open and their eyes stretching even wider.

I wish I could savour the look on their faces forever!

“Is there a problem, babe?” Liam's eyes dart between me and the trio of bitter has-beens.

I shake my head and cling to Liam even more, slithering my hand, the one with the diamond, on his chest. The trio follow my every movement, too stunned to even utter a single word.

I was right when I said I had a talent for shutting bitches up.

“There's no problem, darling,” I purr, smiling sweetly at my fiancé. “I was just telling these girls about your exquisite taste in jewellery. I mean, look at this beauty!”

I'm doing it again! Flashing my ring at them, that is.

One of Hallie's clones gasps. “No way! No freaking way! You're Liam Everhart!”

Liam stares at her blankly and doesn't think to even respond to her. He looks at me and mutters but loud enough for them to hear. “Friends of yours?”

“Hardly, darling. More like bitter wanna-bes.”

A flush creeps up Hallie's neck, her eyes bulge and her face turns beet red. She wants to say something but she doesn't. She's too dumbfounded to even speak and she looks like she's ready to burst into flames.

“Shall we?” Liam lets go of my waist and extends his arm to me, his hand slightly bent at the elbow.

I smile at him and slide my hand through the crook of his elbow, hooking my arm with his. The girls are not looking good. Hallie looks like she's about to faint.

“Oh, Liam darling,” I say, acting like I just remembered something. “The girls were asking about our wedding. When is it again?”

Liam furrows his brows, boring his eyes into me. I sense his patience wearing thin. But he replies anyway in a strained voice, “Next month.”

“You heard that, girls. Our wedding will be held next month. And no, you're not invited. It's nothing personal though, just formalities. Bumpkins like you aren't allowed. Don't take it to heart.”

Liam chuckles a bit. “If you're done, can we leave now, babe?”

“Yes, of course. I've wasted enough time already.” I wave at the trio. “Ta-ta, darlings! It was lovely seeing you all.”

Hallie's friends seem like they're about to cry, their pale faces crumpling. As Liam leads me away from the bimbos, I feel Hallie's stare burning a hole in my back. She still hasn't managed to recover her composure. Good! Very good!

I'm feeling victorious and smug! I've never had Hallie that stupefied before. It feels so good. If this kind of triumph comes with being Liam's contract wife along with the monetary benefits, then I'm going to enjoy this role a lot more than I should.

As we turn the corner and the other girls disappear from view, Liam says to me, “I leave you for five minutes and you're already stirring up drama.”

“Do I look like the kind of woman who stirs up drama?” I roll my eyes, striding alongside him.

“Perhaps not. But you enjoy it way too much.”

I agree, “How can I not when drama seems to follow me everywhere I go, Mr Everhart? It's not like you didn't take part in the drama either. And besides, isn't that what our relationship is all about? Drama?”

My heels click against the pavement as we reach the parking lot. Derek opens the car door for me and Liam to get in. I'm still smiling loudly, Hallie's miserable, shocked face etched in my memory. If only I could capture it and frame it.

“You're smiling too much,” Liam's sardonic voice puts an end to my happiness.

I glare at him. “Mind your own business, Mr Everhart.”

“You are my fiancée. You are my business.”

I roll my eyes again and ignore him throughout the rest of the ride.

***

“It's time for your insulin injection,” Kim reminds me, holding a syringe, a vial of Humalog insulin and an alcohol swab.

Kim is the personal nurse Liam hired to live with us to ensure I don't skip my medication. He'd brought her without asking me. And even when I insisted on taking care of myself, Liam wouldn't have it.

She sets the stuff in her hand down on the bedside table, next to a small cooler bag, a glucometer, and a box of test strips she'd also placed there.

“Let's get your blood sugar levels checked first, okay?” she says with a smile.

I nod and slip my finger into the glucometer. Kim hands me a test strip and I prick my finger, squeezing out a tiny drop of blood.

We wait a few seconds, then Kim reads out the result. “Your levels are a bit high today, Rayne. We'll need to adjust your dosage.”

She carefully prepares the injection, measuring out the right amount of insulin. I stretch out my arm. She wipes my arm with the cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol.

“You might feel a little pinch,” she warns as she's about to stick the needle in my arm.

I reply, taking a deep breath, “I've been taking these stuff all my life. You don't have to say that every time you do this.”

“Sorry, dear, old habits die hard.”

I grimace as the needle goes in, feeling a slight pinch. I have to repeat this process four times a day. It can be exhausting and frustrating but I know it's necessary to manage my type 1 diabetes. It's my daily routine.

I can't afford to miss them if I don't want to end up in the hospital or worse. But sometimes, like today, it feels like a burden.

“All done!” Kim chirps. “You're good to go.”

“Thank you.” I give her a weak smile.

Kim pats me on the back. “Mr Everhart asked me to help you get ready for the gala. He's sending a stylist any moment from now.”

Right. The gala.

Liam and I are attending this charity event where most of the wealthiest people in the city would be present. He's the only one of the Everhart family who would be present. He was sent by his grandfather to represent their family.

I'm to accompany him as his date. This would be the first time we're making an appearance as a couple, well, officially.

A few minutes later, the stylist arrives. I recognize her from a fashion magazine I stumbled on some months ago. I heard she's the best in all of New York city and would be taking care of my look for all of Liam's formal events.

“Mr Everhart wants to make sure you look your best when you're representing him in public. And I will make that happen,” Ruese, the stylist, tells me as she examines my face.

She begins rummaging through the rack of clothes she's brought with her and then pulls out a stunning red gown. “This one!” she squeals, holding it up against me. “This one will make you shine like a diamond! It will complement your skin and your hair!”

Ruese gets to work and I mean, work. She starts with a hairdo that takes forever, curling and styling every strand perfectly. Then, she moves on to a skin treatment that involves a million steps, from exfoliating to moisturizing.

After that, she does a makeover, applying layers of makeup to enhance my features. Finally, she helps me fit into the dress, which is tighter than I expected. She makes adjustments and tweaks until I'm perfectly nestled in the gown.

I peer into the full-length mirror and gasp loudly, barely recognizing myself. Ruese has transformed me into a stunning beauty, just like she promised. I can't take my gaze from my reflection. I'm gorgeous!

I hear Liam is waiting for me downstairs, ready to leave. I clutch my silver love-shaped purse and head over to him. He's on a call when I make my way towards him.

Liam hears my footsteps and slowly turns to see me. Our eyes meet. I feel a flutter in my chest when he stares at me, his mouth slightly open. He can't seem to take his eyes off me even as I approach him.

“Where are your manners, Mr Everhart?” I'm smirking as I remember how he'd called me out for staring at him. “Hasn't anyone ever told you that it's rude to stare?”